The Artists Behind the Cards: A World Art Day Spotlight
At the heart of our business is a long-standing passion for supporting independent artists and designers—it’s quite literally how our brand began. As a publisher of design-led greeting cards and gifts, creativity is at the core of everything we do.
World Art Day, celebrated each year on April 15th, is a global celebration of art, creativity, and artistic expression. The date was chosen in honour of Leonardo da Vinci’s birthday, recognising his lasting impact on art and culture. It’s a day dedicated to championing creativity in all its forms and highlighting the importance of the arts worldwide.
Art plays a vital role in our everyday lives. From the design of the objects we use daily, to the artwork in our homes, the architecture around us, and the visual content we consume, art and design is everywhere. Whether we actively seek it out or not, creativity shapes how we experience the world - and we couldn't be happier about that!
As a brand that collaborates with talented artists, illustrators, and designers, we’re proud to bring original artwork to life through our collections. So World Art Day feels like the perfect opportunity to celebrate some of the incredible creatives we’re lucky enough to work with...
Why Do We Work with Independent Artists?
We've always loved supporting the work of independent designers, from our early days when Cath would offer a platform to independent female cartoonists, all the way up to modern times when we work with a roster of fabulous artists. We’re passionate about bringing unique, design-led greeting cards to our customers, and working with artists who have a distinctive style is key to that.
We're always on the lookout for new and emerging talent to work with, so if you think you could offer something new to us please send us an email with examples of your work and links to your social media and/or website to info@cathtatecards.com.
Lisa Robson aka Lost Plots
First up is Lisa of our award-winning range Lost Plots. Our collaboration began when one of our former sales agents, also the owner of our long-standing stockist Larks in Liverpool, introduced us to Lisa. Together, we launched a range of funky, psychedelic greeting cards packed with bright, groovy patterns, quirky illustrations, and retro-inspired motifs drawn from mid-century music, design, and film.
Since then we've won awards, expanded into notebooks and we've got a Christmas collection coming in 2026 - the Lost Plots Universe continues to grow!
Shop Lost Plots greeting cards
Simon Drew
Simon Drew is a celebrated British illustrator (and self-proclaimed "half artist, half wit") whose work has amused and delighted fans for decades. With a unique artistic style and a sharp eye for the absurd, Simon masterfully blends the everyday with the unexpected - always anchored by a pun, play on words, or clever visual twist. His drawings often feature animals in delightfully unconventional scenarios, brought to life with a signature British sense of humour.
"I draw at every opportunity – both in my studio at home (a small space stuffed with artefacts that inspire me) and at work in our gallery. I never go to bed leaving a blank sheet of paper – there must always be something in progress." - Simon Drew
In 2025 we took over the distribution of Simon's greeting cards, and have continued to expand the range since. We might even have a new product line on the way...Watch this space!
Shop Simon Drew greeting cards
Follow The Simon Drew Gallery on Instagram
Lucy Stephens aka Lucy Loves This
Lucy is an illustrator and graphic designer, who after years in a corporate job decided enough was enough, and left her job to follow her dream of being an artist! Ever since, she's been creating beautiful artwork and has worked with us on 2 everyday collections and a Christmas card range since 2023.
Initially we created a foiled cocktail-themed collection with Lucy, and soon we introduced an intricately illustrated book-themed range called Lucy Loves Literature. From Little Women to Romeo & Juliet, The Secret Garden to The Great Gatsby - Lucy's beautifully illustrated designs feature a number of literary classics.
Shop Lucy Loves Literature Christmas
Jessica Watson aka Hotfoils
If you love glitter, colour, bold design and pop culture references, then Hot Foils - the alter ego of Peckham-based artist Jessica Watson - should definitely be on your radar. And if you’re into all of the above and obsessed with greeting cards? Then the Hot Foils x Cath Tate Cards collection is one you’ll want to explore immediately.
"It's better to be a few people's shot of tequila than everyone's cup of tea" - Jessica Watson
We’ve been lucky enough to work with Jessica for a few years now, publishing over 50 of her sassy, vibrant designs - each one bursting with personality and sparkle. Jessica uses vibrant foiling to create pop-culture inspired designs that are guaranteed to brighten your day.
Carol Maxwell aka Max Made Me Do It
Carol is a talented painter and illustrator who creates gorgeous hand-painted designs featuring intricate botanicals and bold text - we've been working with her on a range of greeting cards for years.
Having had a successful 15 year long career as a textile designer for the fashion industry, Carol was compelled to draw whilst on maternity leave and surrounded by the toys and gifts that lay in wait for her first son, Max. Carol began playing around with the illustrations she was creating and trying them out as greeting card designs, before she knew it both Max and Max Me Do It were born.
When she's not designing greeting cards she can be found leading art workshops and painting beautiful wall murals!
Shop Max Made Me Do It Christmas
Niccy Iseman aka Type and Story
Type and Story was founded by Niccy with the intention of helping people to tell stories and express their feelings through greeting cards for every occasion. Meaningful exchanges are the deep-rooted ethos of the brand, and Niccy draws on themes of cosmic dreams, mythical symbols and everyday beauty. Her soulful designs offer a new vibe for our offering and we love how her contemporary design style and palette has helped to give a new string to our bow as a greeting card publisher.
Since taking over the distribution of Type and Story at the beginning of 2025, we've expanded the range and will be launching Christmas for 2026!
Jo Burrows aka Wot Ma Like
Jo was brought up in Byker Newcastle. From an early age she had huge creative flair and her dolls were the best dressed in Byker! She trained as a textile designer and went on to work for several big high street stores as a designer before working with design agents to sell her work worldwide.
The Modern Icons range came from a series of celebrity illustrations Jo originally posted on social media. She got an instant reaction to the illustrations and started putting them on wooden keyrings to sell to shops. Soon after we approached Jo about transforming them into a witty card range - and the rest is history!
Each famous face is hand drawn in Jo’s unmissable illustrative style and bears an uncanny resemblance to the star they represent - from ABBA to Beyonce and David Bowie to Taylor Swift. Jo’s brilliant illustrative style and sense of humour is what drew us to her, which made for a perfect pairing!
